About half an hour passed until I heard someone climb up the stairs to the tree house. "Shawn" I thought and got ready to explain my sudden departure and apologise for leaving him clueless until I saw the top head of a boy. Then I noticed hair highlights and a dangly earring. Grayson.

"Here you are," He said with the most casual tone

I forgot he knows my secret place. This did use to be our special place last year after all...

"Grayson?! I- Wh- what are you doing here?"

"I came to make sure you were alright. You didn't seem so when you ran away crying. Sue me for worrying" He said with a sad sarcastic tone.

"Cut it out, Grayson. You left. When I most needed you. And now you're back and you think everything will go back the way it used to? No." I said with an assertive tone, trying to make him see things from my perspective.

"I left because I hurt you and I couldn't bear to look at your beautiful face hurting every day. I loved you too much to do that, Kath" I couldn't believe his words. He looked sincere and genuine and I felt that growing pain in my stomach again

"Stop! Don't call me that. You have no idea how much I've equally missed and hated this nickname for the past 12 months." I said without thinking and shaking my head

"You've missed this too? You've missed... us? You've missed...me?" He said softly with a growing smile on his face

I was silent for a while. Silent because I did not want to admit the truth, because I knew it was the wrong thing to do. Silent because apart from all of this... deep down I knew I did miss him. More than I care to admit.

"Grayson I can't do this. I was moving on and I was doing just fine before you and your stupid brother came back. I went through so much this past year and I cannot bear to go through it again, okay!?" I said with a breaking voice.

Grayson's smile faded which was supposed to be my aim but in all honesty, I did not want it to go away. I missed his toned skin, his perfect hair, his bright smile and warm feeling which he brought with him no matter where he went. It was in that moment when Grayson wiped something off my face that I realised I had started crying. Again. Great.

"I do not want to see you cry, Kath-" I gave him a death stare

"-rine. You see? This is the reason I left you" He whispered the ''left'' part and looked down which made the pit in my stomach to hurt more.

His soft hand was still against my cheek and I did not realise I let my head fall on it, thereby taking in its softness acting like a calming remedy to my current pain.

He took this opportunity to put his other hand behind my neck and bring me closer to him. His scent. His cologne. His hazel eyes piercing through my black ones. Our noses slightly touching. Feeling his cool breath against my face. Damn. I really did miss him without even realising.

Our lips were inches apart when I heard someone's breath hitching. I looked away sharply and saw Shawn's upper body poking through the hole leading to the ladder. His eyes were weary and full of disappointment. My breath also hitched as a responce and all I could say was:

"Shaw- I- Wait. I can explain!" But it was too late, he had already started going down the ladder. He jumped when he wasn't even halfway down the ladder and started walking quickly towards his house

I followed him immediately and started running after him. I barely caught up since his steps were much bigger than my running due to his long legs and hight. From behind he looked angry and kept looking left and right running his hand on his mouth and mustache area showing frustration. His muscular back was moving quickly looking tense

I eventually caught up to him and pulled him by his shoulder making him face me.

"Don't touch me" He raised his tone

"Shawn just give me a chance to expl-" I said pleadingly

"Explain what? Huh? How you were about to kiss this dude that showed up out of nowhere? How you left me confused with his rude twin brother? How I had no idea what was happening until this Ethan dude told me you and his twin were a thing? Wait, not a thing, let me quote that douchebag "The IT couple" and how his brother was going to get in your head and by quoting Ethan in your "pants" immediately, you know just by coming back into your life for 2 mins? Then, of course, I told him I did not believe him because I fucking trusted you. I then immediately decided to go and search for you in the tree house because I thought that's our place. And then what do I see? What the fuck do I find out, huh?! That Ethan was right all along. And that you were about to kiss that same dude who clearly hurt you, who is the reason you cannot stand the nickname Kath, and who clearly left and made you suffer. No, I'm done here" He said with a fake and tired smile beginning to turn his back on me and leave.

"Shawn, please. Please just wait-" Hearing the sound of my voice I realised I was crying and my voice was breaking in every word I say. Hearing Shawn say all of this made me realise how stupid I was for ever allowing myself to be this close to Grayson again. I know it was unwise but I really felt unable to stop it. I guess what they say is right- love makes you do foolish things.

Shawn stopped and slowly turned back to face me.

"I don't know why I allowed myself to be this close to him again. I- I wish I could explain it but I can't. I promise-" Shawn scuffed when hearing the word "promise"

"I- I promise I would never do that again. I would never cheat on you, believe me, this is the last thing I would want to do after... after going through it myself" I whispered the last part. 

I guess I finally dropped the bomb. In the way I never wanted to. I wanted to do this right, yet when the twins show up, they always seem to mess everything up. Shawn looked slightly taken back and his facial expression gave his worries away...I think. He composed himself too quickly for me to understand really and his expression rapidly shifted from uneasy to mad.

"How could I ever trust you after this, Katherine? It's close to the impossible. And...how- how" He struggled to finish his sentece

"- how could you cheat on me when we were never together in the first place?" Shawn spitted out. He scoffed again and smiled fakely, turning his back on me at last and leaving me shaken, broken. 

No matter how much I wish this wasn't happening and no matter how much I was hurting, I knew, even at this moment that I... deserved it.